Apparatus for restraining the lower legs and feet of a livestock animal

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for securing the legs of livestock animals includes a frame also which defines an entrance and an exit and which presents sidewalls which extend between the entrance and the exit thereby presenting a chute suitable for the ingress and egress of a livestock animal. Near the floor of the chute and between the entrance and the exit are leg bars which are able to move between a retracted position suitable for allowing the lower legs of a livestock animal to move freely between the leg bars and the sidewalls and an extended position in which the leg bars are closer to the sidewalls so that the lower legs of a livestock animal are held securely between the leg bars and sidewalls. The apparatus can be used to secure the lower legs of a livestock animal and thereby immobilize the animal.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/061,990 filed on Oct. 9, 2014 which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for restraining the lower legs of a livestock animal.

BACKGROUND

Typical livestock animal chutes for restraining livestock animals have included inward moving panels within a frame which squeeze the body of the livestock animal. An apparatus which squeezes the body of the animal still leaves the legs free for kicking. A large livestock animal that is kicking presents a serious hazard to those who are working with the animal. The applicant has discovered that all that is needed to immobilize a large livestock animal is to immobilize all four feet of the animal. If all four feet are secured, the livestock animal can not move and the livestock animal can not kick.

SUMMARY

The present livestock animal securing apparatus includes a chute which has a floor, an entryway and an exit as well as sidewalls which extend between the entrance and the exit. A set of longitudinal leg bars is situated near the floor of the chute between the entrance and the exit. The leg bars are moveably mounted for translation between a first retracted position in which the leg bars are spaced away from their respective adjacent sidewalls by a first distance suitable for allowing free movement of an animal's lower legs between the leg bars and the sidewalls and a second extended position in which the leg bars are spaced away from each of their adjacent sidewalls by as second distance that is smaller than the first distance, the second distance being such that the lower legs of a livestock animal are held securely between the leg bars and the sidewalls. Both the sidewalls and the leg bars are preferably padded with a suitable flexible material to prevent injury to the animal so restrained. When the lower legs of a livestock animal are securely held by the apparatus as described above, the animal is not able to kick or move from its secured position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chute with one embodiment of a lower leg restraining apparatus.

FIG. 2A is a second perspective view of a chute having one embodiment of a lower leg restraining apparatus with the sidewalls removed.

FIG. 2B is a second perspective view of the chute having one embodiment of a lower leg restraining apparatus as shown in FIG. 2A with the flexible covering removed from the leg restraining mechanism for clarity.

FIG. 3 is end view of one embodiment of a lower leg restraining apparatus shown with a leg restraining mechanism in a retracted position.

FIG. 4 is end view of one embodiment of a lower leg restraining apparatus shown with a leg restraining mechanism in an extended position.

FIG. 5 is end view of one embodiment of a lower leg restraining apparatus shown with a leg restraining mechanism in the retracted position and also shown with a broken away lower portion of a livestock animal in order to illustrate that the lower legs of the livestock animal are able to freely between the leg restraining mechanism and the sidewalls of the chute.

FIG. 6 is end view of a one embodiment of a lower leg restraining apparatus shown with a leg restraining mechanism in the extended position and also shown with a broken away lower portion of a livestock animal in order to illustrate that the lower legs of the livestock animal are secured between the leg restraining apparatus and the sidewalls such that the livestock animal is not able to move its legs.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the leg restraining mechanism shown in the retracted position with the flexible cover removed for clarity.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the leg restraining mechanism shown in the extended position with the flexible cover removed for clarity.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the leg restraining mechanism with the flexible cover removed for clarity and with one of the leg bars broken away to reveal an actuator and one of the arms extending between the central support member and one of the leg bars broken away to show the internal arrangement of the arm and the finger mounted roller which engages the arm.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged end view of the leg restraining mechanism cut away to show the internal arrangement of one arm with the leg restraining mechanism in a fully retracted position.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged end view of the leg restraining mechanism cut away to show the internal arrangement of one arm with the leg restraining mechanism in a fully extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a leg restraining apparatus 10 which is incorporated into a livestock animal chute 2. Livestock animal chute 2 includes a frame 3 having a base 4. Base 4 presents a floor 4A which is suitable for being traversed by a livestock animal. Frame 3 is arranged to define an entrance 3A and an exit 3B. Opposing left and right sidewalls 7L and 7R extend between entrance 3A and the exit 3B thereby defining a chute suitable for the ingress and egress of a livestock animal. As can be seen in FIGS. 1-6, a leg securing mechanism 20 is mounted to floor 4A of base 4. As can be seen in FIGS. 1-6, in this example, leg securing mechanism 20 is located generally and preferable equidistantly between the left and right sidewalls 7L and 7R. In this example, leg securing mechanism 20 appears to be disposed closer to exit 3B than to entrance 3A and is shorter than animal chute 2. However, leg securing mechanism 20 may also extend nearly the full length of animal chute 2. The lower portions of left and right sidewalls 7L and 7R are preferably furnished with padded portions 7LP and 7RP which cooperate with leg securing mechanism 20 as will be described in greater detail below to provide leg restraining apparatus 10.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, leg securing mechanism 20 includes a support member 22 which is preferably positioned generally equidistantly between sidewalls 7L and 7R. In this example, support member 22 is a cylindrical pipe which preferably has a uniform outside diameter. As can be seen in FIG. 7, support member 22 is supported by a set of telescoping columns 24A, 24B and 24C. In this example, three telescoping columns are employed, but the skilled reader will appreciate that preferably at least two telescoping columns would be needed to adequately support support member 22. As can be best understood by referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, telescoping columns 24A, 24B and 24C are arranged to exclusively accommodate the vertical movement of support member 22 between a first raised position shown in FIG. 10 and a second lowered position shown in FIG. 11. As can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, an actuator 26 connects between base 4 of frame 3 and the support member. In this example actuator 26 is a hydraulic cylinder but actuator 26 may be any suitable actuator. The actuator is preferably controllable by an operator for moving support member 22 between the first raised position shown in FIG. 10 and second lowered position shown in FIG. 11.

As can also be seen in FIG. 2, leg securing mechanism 20 further also includes a left leg bar 32L and a right leg bar 32R. Left and right leg bars 32L and 32R are arranged on opposite sides of support member 22 and are each connected to support member 22 by a set of arms 34 which are preferably symmetrically identical and preferably interchangeable at least on each side of leg securing mechanism 20. As can be best seen in FIG. 8, in this example, each arm 34 has a generally square, hollow cross section and is formed in a curved or arc shape.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 7-11, the proximal end of each arm 34 is connected to support member 22 by a strap 36 which extends from the surface arm 34 which is adjacent to support member 22. In each case, strap 36 wraps around support member 22 and thereby forms a bushing around support member 22 which functions much like the portion of a hinge plate which is formed around a hinge pin. Accordingly, the proximal ends of arms 34 are rotatably connected to support member 22 to allow of arms 34 to rotate relative to support member 22 as shown in FIGS. 7-11. In this example, the distal ends of arms 34 are fixed to leg bars 32L and 32R as shown in FIGS. 7-11 so that leg bars 32L and 32R are able to move between a retracted position shown in FIG. 10 and an extended position shown in FIG. 11.

Leg securing mechanism 20 is arranged such that when support member 22 moves from the first raised positon to the second lowered positon, leg bars 32L and 32R translate outboard. Also, when leg bars 32L and 32R move outboard, they also move slightly upwardly along a curved path relative to floor 4A.

In this example, the outboard translation of leg bars 32L and 32R is constrained in a gently upwardly curving path because each arm 34 is translatably engaged by an element which is generally stationary with respect to frame 3. As noted above arms 34 are curved. In this example, each underside surface of each arm 34 presents a longitudinal slot 34S. As noted above, each arm 34 is hollow and in this example each arm 34 has a generally square cross section. Accordingly, as can be seen in FIGS. 9-11, each arm 34 is able to receive a roller 38 of a roller assembly 39. In each roller assembly 39, each roller 38 is rotatably mounted at the end of a finger 38F which is sized to be received by slot 34S. Each finger 38F, in turn, in this example, is fixed to a bracket 42 which, in turn, is fixed relative to floor 4A. Therefore, each roller assembly 39 (with the possible exception of rotating roller 38) is fixed relative to frame 3. In this example, the translatably engaging element is a roller assembly having a roller which is received within each arm, but the skilled reader will appreciate that any one of a number of engaging elements may be substituted for the roller arrangement described immediately above.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the motions of arms 34 are constrained by roller assemblies 39 as leg securing mechanism 20 moves between the first retracted position shown in FIG. 10 and the second extended position shown in FIG. 11. And, because of the geometry of this mechanism including the curved shape of arms 34, in this example, the outboard path of each leg bar 32L and 32R describes a gently upwardly rising curved path. Preferably, leg restraining mechanism 20 is covered by a flexible covering 20S as shown in FIG. 2A. In this example, flexible covering 20S may be fashioned from belted rubber or a similar, comparable material. It is preferable that flexible covering 20S be arranged and secured to support member 22 and leg bars 32L and 32R such that it would not be possible for a livestock animal to place one of its legs between support member 22 and either of leg bars 32L or 32R.

As can be best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, sidewalls 7A and 7B may present padded portions 7P1 and 7P2 which are generally positioned to be opposite from leg bars 32L and 32R respectively particularly when leg bars 32L and 32R are in the outboard position shown in FIG. 11. Thus, leg restraining mechanism 20 is preferably arranged so that the lower portions of a livestock animal's legs are pressed between padded padded portions 7P1 and 7P2 and flexible covering 20S which covers leg bars 32L and 32R. The objective is for restraining mechanism 20 to apply sufficient pressure to immobilize the legs of an animal C (indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6) without inflicting any significant injury to the legs of the animal C. A livestock animal thus immobilized is essentially incapable of kicking and even incapable of substantial bodily movements.

It is also preferable in this embodiment for sidewalls 7A and 7B to be mounted on movable panels which are able to be adjustably moved within frame 3. In this example, sidewalls 7A and 7B are able to be adjusted in unison in the outboard direction and inboard direction at their upper ends. Also in this example, sidewalls 7A and 7B are able to be adjusted in unison in the outboard direction and inboard direction at their lower ends. This makes it easier to accommodate different sizes of livestock animals.

Except for components which are more preferably fashioned from foam rubber, flexible belted rubber or injection molded plastic such as would be the case, for example, for padded portions 7P1 and 7P2, for flexible covering 20S or rollers 38, most of the components described above are preferably fashioned from high strength steel or some other appropriately strong, durable material. The general size of apparatus 10 would be determined by the general range of sizes found in a particular type of livestock animal. In most cases, apparatus 10 would be employed for working cattle but apparatus 10 could be adapted for use with other types of livestock animals.

As can be understood from the above description, apparatus 10 provides a useful article of equipment which is able to be used to secure and immobilizing the lower legs and feet of livestock animals thereby preventing kicking and also substantially immobilizing the livestock animal from other bodily movements.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, except in so far as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
 1. An apparatus for restraining the legs of a livestock animal, comprising; (a) a livestock animal chute including a frame having a floor, an entrance and an exit, (b) at least two members arranged longitudinally between the entrance and the exit of the chute near the floor of the chute and arranged on either side of the center of the chute, (c) sidewall members disposed outboard from and in opposing relationship to the at least two members, (d) at least one of the at least two members or the sidewall members being movably mounted to the frame for movement between a first retracted position in which the at least two members and the sidewall members are spaced apart by a first distance and a second extended position in which the at least two members and the sidewall members are spaced apart by a second distance which is smaller than the first distance such that the at least two members and the sidewall members are sufficiently proximate to secure the lower leg of a livestock animal between them.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: when the at least two members and the sidewall members are spaced apart by the first distance, there is sufficient clearance for a livestock animal to move its feet between the at least two members and the sidewall members.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the at least two members and the sidewall members are at least partially covered by a flexible material so as to cushion the contact between the at least two members and the sidewall members and the leg of a livestock animal.
 4. An apparatus for securing the legs of a livestock animal, comprising: (a) a frame including a base which presents a floor suitable for being traversed by a livestock animal, the frame also defining an entrance and an exit and further presenting sidewalls which extend between the entrance and the exit thereby defining a chute suitable for the ingress and egress of a livestock animal, (b) a leg securing mechanism mounted to the floor of the base, the leg securing mechanism being disposed between the sidewalls, the leg securing mechanism including a support member which is positioned generally equidistantly between the sidewalls, the support member being movably mounted to the base for movement between a first raised position and a second lowered position, the leg securing mechanism further presenting leg bars which are mounted on opposite sides of the support member, the leg bars being connected to the support member by arms having proximal ends and distal ends, the arms being pivotably connected to the support member at their proximal ends and being fixed to one of the leg bars at their distal ends, at least one of the arms which is connected to each leg bar being translatably engaged by an element which is fixed in relation to the frame, such that when the support member moves from the first raised position to the second lowered position, the arms translate relative to the elements which are fixed to the frame such that the leg bars translate from a retracted position in which they are spaced away from the sidewalls by a first distance to an extended position in which they are spaced away from the sidewalls by a second distance which is substantially less than the first distance, whereby, when the legs of a livestock animal are interposed between the leg bars and the sidewalls when the leg bars are in the first, retracted positon, the legs of the livestock animal are able to move between the leg bars and the sidewalls and whereby when the leg bars are in the second extended position, the legs of the livestock animal are secured between the leg bars and the sidewalls such that the livestock animal is not able to move its legs.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: an actuator connecting between the base and the support member, the actuator being controllable for moving the support member between the first and second positions.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: each arm is shaped to curve downwardly and outwardly from the support member.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: each arm is hollow and presents a slot which extends along the length of the arm, each element which is for translatably engaging an arm includes a roller assembly which is mounted to a bracket which is fixed to the frame, the roller assembly includes a finger having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the finger is fixed to the bracket and the distal end of the finger carries the roller, the slot of the arm receiving the finger so that the roller is able to roll inside the hollow arm thereby guiding the arm during the translation of a leg bar.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: each arm is hollow and presents a slot which extends along the length of the arm, each element which is for translatably engaging an arm includes a roller assembly which is mounted to a bracket which is fixed to the frame, the roller assembly includes a finger having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the finger is fixed to the bracket and the distal end of the finger carries the roller, the slot of the arm receiving the finger so that the roller is able to roll inside the hollow arm thereby guiding the arm during the translation of a leg bar. 